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Entries from April 2010

April 30, 2010

Our Veterinary Services team organized the Richmond SPCA’s first high-volume, affordable microchip clinic in August of last year. More than 600 pets attended. We’ve hosted two other clinics since then, and we’ll host another one Monday, May 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at our Robins-Starr Humane Center. If your cats or dogs are not yet microchipped, this will be a great opportunity to have the service performed at a reduced cost of only $20 (which includes the chip’s lifetime registration – we’ll even complete all the paperwork!).

This is a small amount of money to pay for a lifetime of protection. One of the greatest fears we have as pet guardians is the possibility of being separated from our beloved companions. Being prepared for the worst is the best way to confront such fears, and that means ensuring that our pets can be identified and returned home.

Make sure your pet can be identified if he ever becomes lost or is missing. A microchip should always be accompanied by a physical identification tag attached to the collar, and we’ll have those for sale in our retail shop during the clinic (and every other day of the year!).

If you have not already signed up for a microchip clinic slot on May 10, you can do so now by visiting us online. Thanks for taking this important step to protect your precious pets. (Pictured is Marta, who is available for adoption and already microchipped!)

Tamsen Kingry is the chief operating officer for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or those of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 29, 2010

Click here to show your support for these cats by signing our online petition.

A colony of feral cats will be in danger at Richmond International Airport unless RIC authorities decide to do the right thing and permit a concentrated Trap-Neuter-Return effort to take place that would humanely and effectively manage the colony for the long term.

Yesterday we learned that employees of RIC’s Office of Public Safety and Operations are considering having the cats summarily trapped and taken to Henrico Animal Control – a solution that is neither humane nor effective, and which will likely result in the cats’ deaths since they are not socialized to humans and are therefore not likely to be adopted. Airport management was alerted to the presence of the cats recently by a Good Samaritan, who intended to have the cats cared for as opposed to have them rounded up and killed.

The Richmond SPCA is dedicated to preventing this outcome and to this end has communicated with RIC staff and encouraged them to act with compassion. We have asked to meet to discuss the cats and their long-term, non-lethal management through TNR. We are hopeful airport personnel will agree to this meeting and ultimately work with community volunteers, who have already offered their assistance, to successfully have all the cats trapped, sterilized, vaccinated against rabies and returned to the property. Not only is this result in the best interest of the cats, our primary concern, it will also achieve the ultimate aim of RIC, which is to limit the size of the colony.

For years feral cats have been living on airport property, and we are told the colony has had caretakers who have performed TNR. They, like so many other dedicated feral cat caretakers throughout Metro Richmond, have done this work anonymously, fearing that management will seek retribution for their efforts to assist the cats if they are caught. In the case of RIC, we understand that anyone trespassing on airport property to care for the cats will be issued warnings and citations. This is a tough mentality to fight, but it’s important that we do so for the benefit of cats, businesses, caretakers and our community.

A copy of the message we sent to Victor Williams, director of public safety and operations for the Capital Region Airport Commission, can be found below. Please encourage RIC to adopt a compassionate solution to feral cat colony management through TNR by sending your own message to Mr. Williams at VWilliams@flyrichmond.com.

Mr. Williams,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to you regarding the colony of feral cats residing around Richmond International Airport. I understand from individuals who have provided for the wellbeing of these cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts in the past that individuals are no longer permitted to feed and trap the cats (for the purpose of spaying and neutering) and that signs have been posted threatening termination of anyone who does so. I would very much like the opportunity to sit down and talk with you about the colony. The Richmond SPCA has collaborated with many local businesses over the years with respect to feral cats on their properties, and the successes achieved to date have been impressive. It’s been a win-win for the businesses, for the residents/clients, for the cats and for the community. I would be happy to provide you with contact information for management at these businesses so you can talk to them about our partnerships (the businesses vary in size from mid-size retirement/assisted living facilities to communities of 450 apartments, etc.).

I am confident that you can humanely manage the size of the colony at the airport through aggressive TNR. TNR involves community volunteers, also known as caretakers, humanely trapping cats and bringing them to a spay/neuter clinic, like the one at the Richmond SPCA. At our clinic, we perform services for feral cats at no charge. The cats are neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and given routine veterinary care while under anesthesia. In order to easily identify cats already sterilized, the tip of the cat’s left ear is cut. The volunteers monitor the cats while they recover overnight before releasing them from the trap back to the only home they have ever known – the outdoor colony where they have been residing – in this case, the area surrounding your property. These community volunteers continue to feed the cats to prevent foraging. Other nuisance behaviors, such as yowling during mating, fighting and territorial spraying, are diminished or eliminated once the cats are fixed. Vaccination for rabies prevents the threat of disease, keeping the cats healthy and the community safe. Our clinic provides in excess of 2,000 spay/neuter surgeries to feral cats each year.

I understand from community volunteers that your office has expressed interest, and possibly already engaged in, having the adult cats removed to animal control. Relocation and removal methods, do not provide a long-term solution to feral cat colony management the way TNR does. Removing cats from the property creates what is known as a “vacuum effect”. The existing conditions that allowed the original colony to survive in the area eventually draw new cats to the property, thereby repeating the process. It sounds like you want a long-term solution, and ongoing, high-volume TNR can achieve that.

I am confident you don’t want to see these cats suffer or taken to animal control where they will be killed. We welcome the chance to talk to you about the colony and how to manage it compassionately and humanely. I think you will find that your interests and priorities and ours align through TNR. You have some community volunteers who had already been providing for the cats – and they would like to continue to do this. As I understand it, other organizations have also offered to trap on an ongoing basis for the purpose of having the cats spayed or neutered and returned. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you over the phone or in person. I await your positive response. Many thanks.

Sincerely,

Tamsen H. KingryRichmond SPCA

Tamsen Kingry is the chief operating officer for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or those of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 27, 2010

Just when we thought the decision to reassign Richmond Animal Care and Control (RAC&C) could not be delayed another time, City Council proved us wrong, and in doing so, sacrificed sound judgment for more bureaucracy.

After nearly three months of discussing the ultimate placement of RAC&C within the City structure, and pouring over national and statewide studies, reading and hearing the recommendations of national and local thought leaders in animal welfare, examining the placement of other local animal control agencies in County governments, conducting polls among their own constituents, and receiving hundreds of emails and phone calls from residents in their districts, a majority of City Council members last night voted to temporarily place RAC&C under the direct supervision of the deputy chief administrative officer for operations for six months while they establish a commission to research the division’s most appropriate placement.

Huh? I thought that is what Council had been doing since the beginning of February. Apparently the answers to their questions and the results of their own research didn’t jive with the wishes and desires of the City Administration, and so, we must form a commission at taxpayer’s expense to collect more information.

While City Administration has advocated for RAC&C’s reassignment to the Department of Public Works (DPW) or as an independent agency, national and local humane organizations, including the Richmond SPCA, and Richmond residents have consistently urged that RAC&C, an important law enforcement and public safety agency, be moved to the Police Department. The rationale for this opinion can be found in a prior blog post.

Yesterday evening, close to a dozen people appeared before Council to oppose relocation of RAC&C to DPW or as a standalone division. We provided sound reasons for this view and were joined in the audience by an additional 20 or more people who shared the same judgment. Not a single person spoke in favor of either of the City Administration’s proposed reassignment options. And, shocker, no representative from City Administration was present to publicly express a cogent argument for administration’s proposals.

Despite these facts, five out of eight members of Council took the position that a commission must be created to glean additional information and to examine best practices (Bruce Tyler, Reva Trammell and Doug Conner voted against the paper). If the work product of the commission is to have intellectual value and to be accepted as a fair and well-informed analysis, then the commission must include representatives from the Richmond SPCA, the Richmond Animal Welfare Foundation and possibly national humane organizations.

Comments made by a Council member at the conclusion of the discussion last night implied that the controversy reflects that RAC&C is broken and requires fixing in an effort to deflect attention from the real problem which is inadequate and unsupportive supervision at higher levels within the City Administration. RAC&C is a dynamic and progressive division led by Program Manager Jody Jones. During her tenure, the agency has distinguished itself as one of the best animal care and control agencies in the state and country despite the lack of support the agency has received from upper level management for many years. Reassignment to Police would insure that RAC&C receives the support and resources it needs to continue to excel and grow and to deliver the best services possible to the pets and people of Richmond.

If the commission is sincere and serious in its efforts to place RAC&C where it truly belongs and includes the representatives of outside humane organizations mentioned above, it will arrive at the right decision, which is undoubtedly the Police Department. Or, it could cover the issue with even more red tape than it already has and delay the decision for yet another six months. Tick tock. Tick tock.

We are grateful to Councilmen Tyler, Trammell and Conner for having the courage and leadership to oppose the City Administration’s proposals and to advocate for the reassignment of RAC&C to the Police Department.

Tamsen Kingry is the chief operating officer for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, and that of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 26, 2010

Are you one of the lucky ones who got a tax refund back from the government this year? If you have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, a wonderful way to invest this new money is by making a donation to the Richmond SPCA. With a gift to the Richmond SPCA, you are truly making an investment – in your community, in the lives of homeless pets that need your help, and in your own financial future! By making a donation this year, you are reducing your taxable income for next year’s tax return, which will help you get money back again! This is a wonderful way to support those that need your help without dipping into your living expenses. It is a win-win for everyone!

Amanda Macdonald is the manager of major gifts for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 22, 2010

On Monday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at City Hall (900 E. Broad St., 2nd Floor), Richmond City Council will discuss the reassignment of Richmond Animal Care and Control (RAC&C) within the City structure. As you may recall from prior messages I sent last month, when this issue was first being addressed by City Council, RAC&C must be reassigned because the department it now reports to – General Services – is being abolished.

If City Administration has its way, RAC&C will move to the Department of Public Works or it will become a stand alone agency that reports directly to the deputy chief administrative officer for operations. In our view and that of many others, neither reassignment proposal is satisfactory for a myriad of reasons. Regarding Public Works, it shares no similarities with RAC&C and many argue that it is already an overtaxed department that is neither effective nor efficient. Regarding the suggestion that RAC&C would become a stand alone agency, historically standalone agencies in the City have not fared well and have not had anyone looking out for their welfare. In addition, they have suffered from a lack of attention from upper-level management.

Our organization believes it is crucially important that RAC&C reassigned to the Police Department. The rationale for this opinion includes:

RAC&C serves an important public safety function, and citizens rely on it to respond promptly and effectively to emergency calls.

The division is responsible for investigating and aiding in the prosecution of animal-related crimes, most notably dog fighting and animal abuse and neglect.

As a public safety agency, its resources and staffing levels must be protected from debilitating reductions floated or mandated during difficult budget years.

The prevailing assignment of animal control divisions in the state and across the country is Police due in large part to the many synergies that naturally exist among public safety agencies.

Reassignment to Police would impart a valuable level of credibility and respect to the crucial functions of RAC&C.

It is in the best interest of the animals and residents of our city that RAC&C not be reassigned to Public Works or as a stand alone agency. Please join us in urging the members of City Council to not permit either reassignment the Administration is proposing and instead support moving RAC&C where it belongs – in the Police department. Please call or e-mail your representative (http://www.richmondgov.com/CityCouncil/contacts.aspx) to let them know your opinion. We also encourage you to make your voice heard at the City Council meeting Monday evening at 6 p.m. if you are a City resident.

We appreciate all you do to protect the precious pets of our City and to support our friends at RAC&C.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 21, 2010

If you’ve lived in Richmond for any length of time, then it’s very likely that you shopped at Ukrop’s, enjoyed their local produce, rainbow cookies and smiling cashiers, and felt a sense of uncertainty when the news hit that they were being purchased by another company. We, at the Richmond SPCA, were no different. After all, Ukrop’s had generously supplied all of the food and litter for our shelter pets since 2002, thereby enabling us to focus our financial resources directly on our lifesaving programs and services. When we learned that MARTIN’S would be replacing Ukrop’s, we were hopeful that they would continue this amazing partnership, but we could not be certain. Our worries were in vain.

Upon their arrival in Richmond, MARTIN’S graciously opened their arms to the Richmond SPCA and homeless animals by agreeing to continue to donate pet food and cat litter to the orphaned pets awaiting adoption in our center. They also became the official sponsor of the Richmond SPCA’s Humane Education programs, helping us spread the word about kindness to animals and pet responsibility. Like our friends at Ukrop’s, the MARTIN’S family values its customers and is dedicated to giving back to the community in a thoughtful and very meaningful way. Through their, “Living Here, Giving Here” philosophy, MARTIN’S has donated over $15.8 million in cash and product to support the communities in which they thrive. So, I hope you’ll all join me in saying “Welcome, MARTIN’S!”

April 20, 2010

The Richmond SPCA is deeply disappointed in the decision of the United States Supreme Court today striking down the law that prohibited pit bull fighting videos and crush videos, both of which promote and market for public consumption images of horrific cruelty to animals. Images of vicious animal cruelty should be no more deserving of constitutional protection than is child pornography since both cause the corruption of our society and its morals and inspire more acts of cruelty to people and animals.

Employees at the Richmond SPCA get some really great perks – bringing your pet to work, being surrounded by animals all day, seeing wonderful pets go home with new loving families. Another great part of the job is the opportunity to participate in some really cool events and projects. Just yesterday I spent my morning at The Jefferson Hotel at a dog photo shoot for the cover of our Fur Ball invitation (the Fur Ball will be held at The Jefferson on October 1st). The dogs were amazing and we all had so much fun. While we get to work on fun events like the Fur Ball, the Progressive Dinner and Dog Jog, just to name a few, it is important to remember that these events are not just for fun. They play an extremely important role in our fundraising and outreach efforts. The money raised at our events helps us to care for and adopt out more than 3,000 pets each year. Many people that attend our events also end up adopting a pet, attending a class or becoming a supporter of our annual fund. We reach thousands of people through our events, most of which are pet-friendly. Events not only support our programs, but they also help pets and pet guardians to develop a lasting bond. Participating in activities together is a great way to get to know your new pet and to spend more time together, and at the Richmond SPCA, you have your choice of events that range from a black-tie gala to weekly training classes. We hope to see you and your four-legged friend soon!

Amanda Macdonald is the manager of major gifts for the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

April 19, 2010

As you’ve no doubt heard or experienced first hand, Facebook has become a major part of how we communicate with each other and share information about our interests and activities.

The popular social media site currently has more than 400 million active users, 50% of which log on to the site every day. Our own Facebook Fan Page has grown tremendously over the past year, in terms of the number of “fans,” posts and other activity on the page.

I’m writing about this well-covered topic today because something interesting has been happening lately on our Richmond SPCA Facebook Causes page. The page, which has been a component of our social media “portfolio” for more than a year, has seen a dramatic increase in activity and donations recently. This leads us to ask the question. Do Facebook Causes pages represent the next generation of activism and philanthropy?

Facebook Causes provide nonprofits with a way to harness the penchant for activism displayed by many Facebook users. Cause members can recruit friends to the cause, create their own cause page, post media to share, sign petitions, create Birthday Wish and other fundraising campaigns and more, all to support their favorite charitable missions. This important work is all done independent of an organization's official website, traditionally the place where most online fundraising and activism takes place.

Many nonprofits report that fundraising and outreach through Facebook Causes is still tiny when compared to their overall goals. Having said that, the potential for growth of Facebook Causes pages, because of their ease of use, affordability and ability to tap in to the Facebook powerhouse of users, appears to be limitless. That’s a very good thing for your favorite charities!

April 16, 2010

Surgical sterilization of male dogs – known as neutering – is the removal of the dog’s testicles. The surgery is less invasive in males than the spaying of female dogs.

What behavioral changes can be expected after my dog is neutered?
The only behavior changes that are observed after neutering relate to behaviors influenced by male hormones. Playfulness, friendliness, and socialization with humans are not changed; however, some far less desirable behaviors do change. The interest in roaming, aggressive behavior towards other male dogs and urine marking is eliminated in most neutered dogs.

Will he still be interested in females?
His interest will be reduced, but if he is around a female dog in heat, he will become aroused by her. Neutering reduces hormone levels and hormonally-driven behavior, but will not necessarily eliminate them altogether. Note also that mounting behavior is part of normal dog play and can be seen in dogs of both sexes, even after spaying or neutering. Like other behavior, this can be managed or modified using rewards-based training methods.

What are the health benefits to the dog?
There are several health benefits to neutering. One of the most important concerns the prostate gland. Under the influence of testosterone, the prostate will gradually enlarge over the course of the dog’s life. In age, it is likely to become uncomfortable, possibly growing large enough to interfere with defecation. Infection is also more common when the prostate is under the influence of testosterone, and these infections are almost impossible to clear up without neutering the dog. Neutering causes the prostate to shrink into insignificance, thus preventing both infection of the prostate gland as well as the uncomfortable enlargement that occurs with aging.

Other health benefits of neutering include the prevention of certain types of hernias and tumors. Excessive discharge is also reduced by neutering.

At what age can neutering be performed?
At the Richmond SPCA’s Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic, neutering can be performed beginning at 8 weeks of age. The same behavior and prostate health benefits can be realized no matter what age the dog is. In other words, a dog does not become "too old" to obtain the health and behavioral benefits of neutering.

Will he become over-weight or lethargic?
Activity level and appetite do not change with neutering. A male dog should not gain weight or become less interested in activity post neuter.

What if a dog has an undescended testicle?
Undescended testicles have an increased tendency to grow tumors and cause other complications. For these reasons, neutering is recommended for dogs with undescended testicles. This procedure is more complicated than a routine neuter; the missing testicle can be under the skin near the scrotum, or it may be inside the abdomen. Some exploration may be needed to find it, thus there is often an incision for each testicle.

Is neutering legally required?
A breeder’s permit is required for intact animals in the City of Richmond.